Loving wealth destroys the soul, and cheating workers of their just wages and benefits is a mortal sin, Pope Francis said. Jesus did not mince words when he said, “Woe to you who are rich,” after listing the Beatitudes as written according to St. Luke, the pope said in a morning homily. If anyone today Read more
A workers’ rights advocate is calling for tougher penalties against employers found to be breaching minimum employment standards A new research paper canvassing how the British and Americans handle law-breaking employers is offering a solution to New Zealand’s so-called lazy and drugged-up workforce problems. Continue reading
There were a mere handful of complaints made nationwide about stores trading over Easter – and business leaders around the country say a law change is long overdue. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment was notified 15 times about businesses breaking trading laws over Easter weekend – well down on the 42 complaints lodged Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops are disappointed that workers’ family time is under threat in the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill. MPs have voted 75 to 45 in favour of the bill, moving it to the Commerce Committee for consideration. “We are disappointed that the vote in favour of sending the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill Read more
“We know from long experience how precious our few remaining shop-free days are for families and communities,” says Caritas Director Julianne Hickey. She was responding to the announcement by the Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse that The Government will change “arbitrary” national Easter Sunday trading restrictions and put the onus on local councils Read more
Pope Francis has said that caring about the world’s poor does not make him a communist. The Pope called on participants at the World Meeting of Popular Movements last week in Rome to attack the structural causes of poverty and to defend workers’ rights. In a six-page speech, Pope Francis lamented that “land, housing and Read more
This Easter the Greens and Labour parties and a 11,00 strong union have called for businesses to respect Easter trading laws. FIRST Union retail secretary Maxine Gay said retailers who opened on Good Friday were being “greedy”, with little regard for workers’ and families’ need. “Retail workers have among the fewest rights in the country Read more
Bishop Peter Cullinane was among speakers remembering those who have died at work, at a commemoration service for Workers Memorial Day in Palmerston North on Sunday 28 April. Bishop Peter said that each one of the “terrible statistics” of workplace deaths, injuries and illnesses represented the suffering of individuals and families. He said human wellbeing Read more
The New Zealand Parliament has rejected legislation to allow Easter trading for the 11th time. 10 bills have been put up by National members and one by Labour. The present bill was sponsored by National MP for Waitaki Jacqui Dean and proposed allowing shops to open over Easter in Waitaki and Wanaka. It was voted Read more
There was was not much sympathy on the talk back shows for the Sky City employee whose job was in jeopardy because she was carrying a Bible at work. On Wednesday aftenoon, on National Radio, host Jim Mora and his fellow panelists expressed surprise at the amount of support that seemed to exist among the Read more